Motorcyclists should be extra careful in winter

Posted on behalf of the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod and Baril, PLLC on December 1st, 2016

Many people assume that you can just hop on a motorcycle and ride during the colder months in the same manner as you would a car. That isn’t the case. There are some special considerations involved when you are going to head out on a motorcycle during the winter.

One of the issues that you have to think about is your motorcycle’s tires. When the weather is cold, the tires can cool off. Cold tires don’t have the traction that hot tires have. This means that each time your motorcycle stops, you should expect that you will have a reduction in traction, so you will need to be extra careful if you are riding in the city.

Another thing to consider is that you need to protect yourself from the cold air. This means layering your gear. You also can’t forget that you need proper safety gear. Instead, you have to make sure that you wear items that will help to protect you if you are struck by another vehicle.

Along that line, you have to be on the lookout for other vehicles. The winter months are filled with black ice, snow and salt. All of these can mean difficulty keeping control of your motorcycle, but they can also mean that other vehicles have that same difficulty.

If you are struck by a vehicle, be sure to get the medical help that you need. This is important even if you think you aren’t hurt. If the accident was the other driver’s fault, you might decide to look into the possibility of seeking compensation.